Of all the things we had the good fortune to see while on our recent trip to Brittany, France, the boat cemeteries were our biggest highlights. Hands down.
We saw four of them, each one very different:
1. Quelmer Boat Cemetery on the River Rance (during our St. Malo week):
This was the collage I first put up on FaceBook that week...
followed by this one when we went back 3 days later, to make sure we didn't miss anything.
Lucky for us, this time an art teacher was there with her students.
Once home, I started processing the photos on the big screen.
How's this one for scale, with Astrid taking her own photo!
Of the 4 cemeteries we saw, this was our favorite, which is why we visited it twice just 15 minutes from our B&B.
2. Boat Cemetery, Crozon Peninsula near Landévennec and the Térénez Bridge (during our Brest week):
It was this Térénez Bridge we first set out to see that day, which I showed on Facebook. Astrid knew
there was a military ship cemetery nearby but had no address to find it, so you can imagine our
surprise when it was directly across the River Aulne from where we parked to see the bridge!
There are 9 ships from the French Navy, waiting to be dismantled,
and with forbidden access to the public. The Térénez Bridge is off to the left of the photo.
Since we couldn't get close-up shots, this was our least favorite of the 4 cemeteries,
but still a joy to see. An unexpected joy, I might add!
3. Camaret-sur-Mer Boat Cemetery (during our Brest week):
We were on our way to THIS boat cemetery when we accidentally found the naval cemetery above. So we got two for the price of one that day.
Again, this is the collage I showed on FaceBook that day.
Count them: only 6 boats in this cemetery.
This is the overview we saw as we drove into Camaret-sur-mer.
Every boat, like in the Quelmer cemetery, had many faces. I wanted to capture them all.
4. Kerhervy Boat Cemetery in Lanester (during our Vannes week):
My Facebook collage that day shows the tuna trawlers from the 1920's.
This was the cemetery that showed the most decay, down to the skeletons of the boats, and
even though we couldn't walk around the boats, we were close enough to be amazed.
On my FaceBook posts there were expressions of sadness by some, which I can understand. But for photographers, amateurs and professionals alike, such places are paradises...which is what made them the highlights of our Brittany trip.
So, I wondered now how many other countries have boat cemeteries and, yes, I Googled, and here's what I found...even a handful in America! Some are of only one shipwreck, which technically wouldn't be a cemetery, right? But who cares....
A shout-out to My Partner in Crime, Astrid, who did ALL the research on these cemeteries before we even started our trip at the end of May. THANK YOU. You did us proud!
There's a whole lot to unpack from your sitings and photographs. First, I love that they exist, that in the very regulated country of France, they are left to be seen, enjoyed, and valued. I also love the patinas, which would offer an infinite number of photographs just in themselves. And the skeletons, just fascinating. I did not know boat/ship cemeteries existed before this trip of yours. Thank you for such a magnificent introduction!
ReplyDeleteOh, bless you, Ruth! I learned about boat cemeteries from our French bloggers who visit our Shutterchance sites (both Astrid's and mine). So when we knew we'd be in their neck of the woods, it was a must for us. Thank you for you very kind comment!
DeleteA beautiful series. I never knew there were so many boat wrecks.
DeleteNot sure who "Anonymous" is but thank you. I didn't know either.
DeleteWat een geweldige belevenissen zullen dit geweest zijn van die bezoeken aan deze boot begraafplaatsen. Geweldig dat wij mee kunnen genieten.
ReplyDeleteHartstikke bedankt, Marjolein. Photographer that you are, you would have been right there with us--in heaven!
DeleteWhat an amazing post this is, Ginnie. Such great pictures and I have to confess I did not have time to look at mine yet, but to see all of your pictures and collages, it is such a joy!! We found some treasures there. I do admit this was indeed one of the highlights of our vacation. Who would have thought we found so many boat-cemeteries. Thank you for taking the time to make all of these wonderful images into this wonderful post. IHVJ.
ReplyDeleteYOU were the one who found them, Astrid, for which I thank you profoundly. I just love that we can be Partners in Crime on our photo hunts, taking photos in different ways while witnessing the same scenes! And you're more than welcome, of course. These are our memories.
DeleteWhat an unexpected treasure! Here a fishing boat often ends its days in someone’s backyard.
ReplyDeleteLOL, Marie. The concept of a boat cemetery is so foreign to me. Shipwrecks, yes. We all know about them, left to decay over the years. But cemeteries for several boats together--that's a totally new experience. We'll never forget it.
DeleteAn artists dream for sure! Sad too. The photos capture the essence of the old boats in happier times.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a new experience for me, Marie, but one that did not give me sadness, for some strange reason. I think it made me feel like the boats were being "repurposed," perhaps for those of us who see them as a photographer's paradise?
Delete